Interactive Sermon

Personal Browser Update

 Keeping you up to date, I'm in the middle of day two of experimenting with Seesmic.  My plan is to spend a couple days next week with HootSuite, a couple days with PeopleBrowsr and then go back to TweetDeck as I wrap things up.

There are some highpoints with Seesmic for me.  First off, it's pretty intuitive and easy for a techno-moron like me.  I like that.  I have been able to sort out separate columns for my two Twitter accounts and my Facebook account, as well as experiment a bit with setting up a column based on a search and columns based on user lists.  Neato cool.  I also like the features of being able to access Facebook features like 'Like This' and 'Comment' from the Seesmic browser, and access all the Twitter functions like DM, RT, and @ with ease.

The drawbacks for me so far are few, but bothersome.  I really miss the ability I had with TweetDeck to post to both Facebook and Twitter simultaneously.  It may be possible with Seesmic, but I can't figure out how.  *Refer to my earlier techno-moron confession.  What happens to me is that whichever account I last utilized remains the active account, and as such I have on two occasions posted something through the wrong account.  Oops.  And, frustrating too.  And if I want to post to both FB and Twitter, I have had to copy and paste and hit "send" twice, once for each account. 

One more interesting note: the guy who recommended Seesmic to me has posted today on his blog that he's frustrated and moving back to PeopleBrowsr.  Perfect.  I will say this, though--he has many times the friends and followers that I do, and he posts ten to my one, so perhaps it's a volume thing.  I'll continue to watch these developments.

Seesmic so far: I like the look of it.  I like the feel of it.  Most important: It does help streamline my time involvement with social networks.  I've been able to be informed and involved the last 24 hours, but not consumed or distracted.  This is a good thing.  My evaluation of Seesmic continues.  More to come.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Seesmic,Twitter,Facebook

Let The Experiment Begin

Tweetdeck?  HootSuite?  PeopleBrowsr?  Seesmic?  No, I am not blogging in tongues.  I'm undertaking an experiment in personal browsers.

A couple things have happened to me in recent months.  First, I've come to really appreciate Twitter.  I've been able to enjoy it without it consuming my time or energy.  I've also seen benefit--I've been able to connect with, follow and be followed by people in areas of my personal interest and seen Twitter send traffic to my blogs.  Secondly, while I enjoy the connections with friends and family that Facebook affords, I've been more and more discouraged with all the extra garbage that FB adds in--most of which I neither have time for nor interest in.  Hear me: I don't care what your old lady name is or which 80s musician you most resemble.  I don't care what your score on Family Feud was, or how well you know Marcia Brady.  I don't care what breed of dog you would be or which celebrity would play you in a television movie.  Do you know what's worse?  I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU CARE ABOUT THAT STUPIDITY EITHER.  GET A LIFE!  (Okay... breathing... counting... one... two... three...)

So, I'm looking into personal browsers.  I'm wanting to organize my Tweets and filter my Facebook feeds.  I want to combine them and keep them separate.  I want to maximize them and minimize them.

I've been using Tweetdeck for a couple of months.  I must say, I like it.  Easy.  Convenient.  Does a lot of what I want.  But has its limits, especially where FB is concerned.  A friend recommends HootSuite.  I have to tell you the name alone sounds like a hoot!  I've been playing with it a bit this week.  A blog that I follow recommends Seesmic.  I downloaded it last night.  Checking it out.  Someone else swears by PeopleBrowsr.  I will play with that one tonight or tomorrow night.

So, here goes my experiment.  I'm going to play with these four platforms.  Others, too, if you have any suggestions for me.  I'll let you know what I think as I form opinions.  I'd also ask you to chime in here with a comment or drop me an email if you have any cool suggestions for me.

One last word--to my Facebook friends--I'm getting ready to do a big cleanse.  I'll be defriending some folks.  Please understand that this does not mean that I don't love you in real life.  It simply means I'm thinning the ranks of my internet social circle.  Think of it as my having "voted you off the virtual island" if you will.  You might say, "You don't need to defriend, you can simply filter or block their news feeds."  Yes, I am well aware of that.  But why?  Why do I want to have you as a FB friend if we're going to filter or block one another?  Know that while I'd rather not read of your exploits on Facebook Family Feud, I would love to have a cup of coffee with you sometime and talk about life.  So, give me a call.  I'll make time.

Heading into the social networking laboratory.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Twitter,Facebook,Tweetdeck,HootSuite,PeopleBrowsr,Seesmic

Buts From Sunday's Sermon

Sunday we looked into the Spiritual Discipline of Simplicity.  It was interesting to me that much of what I read about simplicity as a Christian discipline connected it with other things--social justice, caring for the poor, or even stewardship of the earth.  How often, I wonder, have we considered the idea that simplicity could help bring us closer to God?

We began by noting the conclusion of the sage, demonstrated with the help of a big but in Proverbs chapter 30, that our economic situation can indeed impact our spiritual well-being.  He pleaded: Give me neither poverty or riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say 'Who is the Lord?'  Or, I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of God. 

From there we considered a couple of stories in the New Testament involving rich young men--both including huge buts.  The first, in Luke 12.  A young man asks Jesus to tell his brother to split an inheritance with him.  Note: the young man wants more.  Jesus instructs that a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.  He illustrates his point with a story about a man who has such a successful harvest that he got busy building bigger barns to hold his wealth.  Everything sounded great until the big but: But God said to him, 'You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded of you.'  Taking a look back through that text I noted that it was a desire for more that led to more busyness--and that in the scope of eternity, it was meaningless.  This text screams about a lack of contentment--need more, do more, have more, be satisfied.  NOT.

The second story is found in Matthew 19.  A rich young ruler asks Jesus 'What must I do to get eternal life?'  I ruminated over that question a lot this past week.  It seems he's asking, 'What's the least amount I need to do?'  I live that way.  Often.  How much can I get and for how little an investment?  What's most telling in this parable for me is that it seems the man is willing to fit religion into his otherwise satisfactory life.  I worry that sometimes we approach God like this--I'll make room for you Sunday morning at 11.  This text calls us to examine our heart's true affections.  I was thinking about the passage in Matthew 10 where Jesus says that if you would follow after him you need to hate your father and your mother.  That's a very harsh word to hear, but it is pretty easily understood to mean that when you consider a relationship with Jesus, all other affections should pale in comparison.  "Go sell all your possessions and give to the poor" was like holding up a mirror.  Jesus assured his disciples, it is impossible for a rich man to come to follow Jesus.  Then the big but: With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

Simplify my out of control life, schedule and affections?  Not in my own strength.  But with God, all things are possible.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Big Buts of the Bible,Bible Study

Big Buts of the Bible: Book of Daniel ch. 4

Here, in a series of posts, are some observations I've made of 'buts' appearing in the book of Daniel. If you’re looking for a text to read through a little at a time, I invite you to grab your copy of the Scriptures and follow along.

Chapter four contains a public decree of Nebuchadnezzar.  Think of it like a press briefing.  The king shares that he has had another dream and that he once again summoned his soothsayers to interpret it.  Am I the only one that finds it strange that he has any soothsayers left after what he pulled with them back in chapter two?  I suppose I figured those guys would have had an urge for vocation change and any file of applicants would have dried up. 

The first but in the text tells us how it went down:

"When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came I told them the dream but they could not interpret it for me." 

Well, at least this time the king told the poor guys about the dream.  No matter.  They couldn't deliver an answer for him.  The king put out a call for Daniel.  I find myself wondering why the king consulted these other guys in the first place.  I wonder if he was uneasy about what the interpretation would be.

Notice that when the king spells out the dream for Daniel it includes a pretty significant but:

"Cut down the tree and trim off its branches... but let the stump and its roots remain."

This big but sets up a most critical part of the message.  If you look ahead a couple of verses you see that this dream was intended "so that the living may know the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men."  The fact that God says take the tree down, but let the stump remain is demonstrative of the fact that God--not Nebuchadnezzar or any other king or kingdom--holds these things within His hand.

The king tells Daniel, 'those other knaves I called upon couldn't help me.'  Confidently then, "But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."  Nebi's not sure who or what this deity is, but he knows Daniel's got it.

As Daniel interprets the dream, he restates it, careful to include that big but--leave the stump.  He tells the king that this is a decree against him.  But acknowledges that God, in His mercy, offers a new start.  "When you acknowledge that heaven rules," Daniel assures the king, then his prosperity will be continued.

The rest of the chapter is Nebuchadnezzar's testimony of having repented and God having restored him.  The chapter ends with the beautiful profession: "Now I, King Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of Heaven."

I come away learning again that God is sovereign over kings and kingdoms.  But also that God's judgment is extended with an offer of mercy and grace.  That shows me that it is indeed God's kindness that leads us to repentance--and repentance that honors God.  Food for thought as we head to chapter five.

Your thoughts?

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Big Buts of the Bible,Bible Study

Do You Think?

Per my friend Jackie's recollection, here's the side by side.  Disturbing.

You Supply The Caption

Buts From Sunday's Sermon

On Sunday we considered a model prayer of confession found in Ezra chapter nine.  The beginning of the chapter sets the stage.  Ezra returned from exile to find his people having rebuilt the altar and the temple under Zerubbabel's return.  The hearts of the people, however, were needing work.  Some of the religious leaders at Jerusalem came to Ezra confessing that they had not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples and their detestable practices as God had commanded.

The first thing we observed was the degree of Ezra's grief over this sin.  He tore his clothes (symbolic gesture of mourning) and pulled hair out of his head and his beard.  He sat down appalled at the offense.  Then, after hours of mourning, he fell down and prayed the prayer of confession we studied.

We noticed that the prayer was littered with plural personal pronouns.  In other words, Ezra put himself in the confession.  "I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you because OUR sins are higher than our heads and OUR guilt has reached to the heavens."  True confession puts sin in God's terms--calls it what He calls it.  Ezra went on to recognize that because of this sin the people were suffering consequences.  They had been subjected to suffering, and he lists it out.  Then we come upon verse 8, and the first big and significant but in the text:

"But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage."

Those are precious words, as I observe them: but now.  This is a window of opportunity occasioned by God's mercy and grace.  This is a fertile moment.  We're ashamed.  We're guilty.  But now, God has been gracious.  More precious words follow: "He has not deserted us; He has shown us kindness; He has granted us new life."

A second big but begins verse 10.  "But now, O our Lord, what can we say after this?"  This but marks a turning point in the prayer.  At this point Ezra moves to consider God's reconciliation and restoration, and wonders aloud, "Would we again break your commands?"

Confession, when it is genuine, results in grief over sin.  It is our taking ownership of our actions, and in brokenness, laying our admission before God.  Our hope in confessing is God's faithfulness to His promise to forgive and to cleanse us--removing our sin as far as the east is from the west, as the scriptures teach.  Confessing is a means through which He will reconcile us, restore us and refresh our souls in relationship to Him.

Sounds great, doesn't it?  David thought so.  Give Psalm 32 a read and see for yourself.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Big Buts of the Bible,Bible Study,Confession

Separated at Birth?

Hmmm.  What do you think?

 

Technorati Tags: Cruella De Vil,Nancy Pelosi

A Prayer of Confession

This weekend at Christ's Church we're going to be talking about confession.  We'll be looking at Ezra 9 for a great example.  While I've been considering the matter of confession this week, however, it was this prayer that kept coming to my mind.  Back in January of 1996 a Kansas preacher by the name of Rev. Joe Wright was asked to speak an opening prayer for the Kansas legislature.  These were his words that day.  As word got out, they shook the country.

“Heavenly Father,
We come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and seek Your directions and guidance.
We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good’, but that’s exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.
We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it moral pluralism;
We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism;
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle;
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery;
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation;
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare;
We have killed our unborn and called it choice;
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable;
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem;
We have abused power and called it political savvy;
We have coveted our neighbors’ possessions and called it ambition;
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of
expression;
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it
enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some
wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people
of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state.
Grant them Your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center
of Your will.
I ask it in the name of your son, the Living Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

How does that prayer strike you?

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Confession,Rev. Joe Wright

What's On My Mind?

A mind is a terrible thing to chaste.

Volume ~ There is a Battle of the Bands here at CCA tonight at 7pm, proceeds to benefit Milford Christian Academy.  As I type this a couple of the bands are here setting up and sound checking.  Tooth-rattling good time we're in for tonight, let me tell you!

Still More Volume ~ We posted the 3 Chords summer schedule today at www.3chordsband.com and we've seen a tremendous amount of visits in the last few hours.  That site, in general, is gathering a lot of daily visits.  Keep coming back.  We'll keep the content fresh and up to date for you.

And Volume of a Different Kind ~ The Chronicles of War podast is now over 1200 subscribers.  Amazing.  And, thank you for helping me get the word out.

The Weekend ~ Shari and I plan on having a nice Friday evening together and we're attending a matinee of Jesus Christ Superstar tomorrow put on by the Peacock Players in Nashua.  Then we gather with our church family on Sunday.  I love weekends.

Big Buts ~ And more big buts.  I've been revising my manuscript and proposal.  Lots.  Of.  Work.  But (there's that word again), sure to be worth it.

Confession ~ I've been prayerfully studying confession all week.  Seems sure to surface Sunday morning during the service.

What's on your mind?

 

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Confession,3 Chords & A Cloud of Dust,Chronicles of War,Peacock Players